LinkedIn insight: Workplace challenges and how to overcome them

How can leaders prepare for the changing world of work? With millions of companies and professionals across the globe on its network, LinkedIn has a unique perspective on future business and workforce trends. Josh Graff, UK Country Manager & VP EMEA, LinkedIn, took the CBI Annual Conference through four growing workplace challenges and how to overcome them.

1. Ensuring that Brexit doesn’t reduce UK skills and investment

Many companies worry about the ongoing strength of the UK as a place to invest and expand, with evidence that inward migration is falling and that the UK is now a net exporter of talent. However, subject to a suitable immigration policy, the UK can continue to compete, Graff said. The wider business environment remains strong, from the skilled workforce we have to the time zone we operate in. And according to LinkedIn data, London sits among the top 10 cities worldwide for business expansion.

2. Demonstrating diversity and inclusion across the workplace

Expectations about what businesses should offer have shifted, Graff continued. At the very least companies need to create a workplace environment in which everyone feels a sense of belonging, based on a culture which promotes diversity and inclusion. Not only is this the right thing to do, but it can create a happier, more creative and more productive group of colleagues. And with 82 percent of companies seeing diversity as crucial to their business strategy, every organisation needs to engage, looking at how they hire and how they manage.

3. Maintaining a skilled workforce in the face of rapid change

The ever-evolving world around us means that information can quickly lose relevance. In fact, the average useful shelf life of skills and knowledge has shrunk to just five years. This means that employees need to spend more time simply keeping up, while employers have a skills gap to fill. To respond, businesses need to commit to lifelong learning as part of their baseline offer to employees. This must extend well beyond ad hoc training sessions and into new groups of workers who can then enter the workplace.

4. Understanding what skills your business needs

In the face of rapid changing technologies, such as Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence, new skills are in high demand – AI is the fastest-growing skill mentioned on LinkedIn, said Graff. But these are not the only skills worth having. According to LinkedIn data, soft skills are in more demand than ever. Companies need to help keep the right mix of skills in the workplace, using new technologies to better understand their own business.